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Friday, April 26, 2013

France et Moi with author Julia Stagg

Welcome
to ‘France et Moi’ where this week I am talking to author Julia Stagg about
what France means to her.

Julia
lived in the Pyrenees region for six years, running an auberge with her husband
and in her spare time coming up with the plot for her series of novels set in
the fictional mountain village of Fogas. Read my reviews of L'Aubergehere and
The Parisian's Returnhere. I am a big fan of these books as not only is Julia
a great storyteller but she also manages to portray the essence of a real French
village. It is therefore exciting news that yesterday book three, The French Postmistress, celebrated it’s release – you can buy it NOW!

Firstly,
I think France is a special place and it is famed for many things including its
cheese, wine and diverse holiday locations plus, dare I say it strikes and dog
poo littered streets. What do you think makes France so very unique and
‘French’?

Julia: The Gallic shrug. That lovely lift of the shoulders,
twist of the lips and an expression that dares you to contradict. It is the
pinnacle of non-verbal communication that the French so excel at. Combine that
with the hand gestures, the faces that aren’t afraid to show what they think,
and a passion for language - that’s what makes France so special for me.

2)
What is your fondest memory of time spent in France?

Julia: Six years running an auberge in the Pyrenees means
there were a lot of brilliant experiences (and difficult ones!) but the one
that stands out happened just after we arrived. It was March and three men came
to the back door of the auberge. Our French was poor. Their English
non-existent. But we managed to understand that they wanted to hire the
restaurant and agreed, even though we weren’t sure what it was for. Turns out
it was for a party that lasted through the night and into the morning and
incorporated the entire community. It was fantastic, marking the beginning of
our life as ‘locals’ in the area and the three men and their families became
firm friends.

3)
When you first arrived in France what was the best thing about being immersed
in French life and the scariest thing?

Julia: Scariest thing is easy. Answering the phone! That
deluge of language with no facial expressions to help you out. So difficult.
And of course, our livelihood was depending on it! It got easier. Eventually!

Best
thing? When guests at the auberge complimented the food. The vast majority of
our clients were French so I was always conscious that we were Anglo-Saxons
cooking for the masters of cuisine. Consequently, their appreciation for what
we served in the restaurant made me feel fantastic.

4)
Do you have any top tips for learning French?

Julia: Ohh. Never ask a linguist that! I could drone on for
hours... But I’ll give you one good tip. You know how when you go to fancy dress
parties everyone behaves differently because they’re ‘in character’? Do the
same with French. Try to imagine you’re French when you use it – despite your
poor accent or mistakes – and you will feel less self-conscious. Honestly. It
works!

5)
Imagine you are sitting outside a French café at 10.00am on a sunny morning
watching the world go by, what do you order from the waiter?

Julia: This is going to sound so unsophisticated but
chocolat chaud. And a pain-au-chocolat. You know what happens next… (Jacqui: no dunking allowed on this blog I’m afraid).

6)
Every region in France has it’s own culinary specialty, do you have a favourite
regional dish?

Julia: Cassoulet. Anyone who has read my books will know
that I’m obsessed with it. It’s hearty. Comforting. And totally filling! But
I’m always amazed at tourists who arrive in the area in the heat of July and
order it for lunch. And then stagger out of the restaurant feeling sleepy.

7)
Is there anything French you won’t eat.

Julia: Foie gras if I can help it. For me, the taste simply
doesn’t justify the process. Other than that, I’m always open to try new food –
it’s one of the best things about living in another country.

8)
France has many different cheeses, a silly question, but which French cheese
are you? A hard and mature Tome, a soft, fresh and lively goat cheese, the
creamy and rich Camembert or maybe the salty and serious Roquefort?

Julia: Having lived in the Ariège-Pyrenees, it has to be the
Tomme!

9)
Best French tipple, and yes I know there are many to choose from?

Julia: I’m going to be boring and say a glass of red. I
never get tired of finding new wines to try and am constantly amazed at the
variety of flavours the viticulturists manage to produce from what is
essentially the same raw ingredient.

10)
If money and commitments were no object where in France would you like to own a
property and what sort of place would it be?

Julia: Sorry, but I’m having two. A stone-built,
slate-roofed renovated grange high up in a valley in the Couserans district of
the Ariège. And a pied-à-terre in Collioure on the bay. You said money was no
object…

Finally,
do you have any current projects you would like to tell my readers about?

Julia: I’m currently writing book four of the Fogas series,
and I can tell you, it’s been tricky setting my work in a sweltering July in
the Pyrenees when I’ve been surrounded by the worst winter on record! Followers
of the novels will be pleased to know it will feature the usual suspects…and a
few new ones too. As you mentioned, the third book, The French Postmistress, is
out in the UK and publication is always an exciting time. For a writer, there
is a long wait between completion of a work and getting feedback (family and
editors don’t count!) so I’m looking forward to hearing what readers have to
say about it.

Thank
you for taking the time to answer some questions about France and you and good
luck with the new book.

Julia: C’est mon plaisir! And keep up the good work with
French Village Diaries.

Find me on Goodreads

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